2020 has been a rough year. Politics, riots, murders, anger, frustration, recession, COVID, an unstable bridge, a collapsing pier, and I’m pretty sure locusts happened at some point. It’s funny, I find my self-descriptions of being a pessimist, but I also know that I am and always have been an optimist.

So strange how we describe people by boxing them in to such simple descriptions. I’m an optimist. A pessimist. A tomboy. Girly. I’m flamboyant. I’m raucous. Bubbly. An extrovert, who just happens to be introverted. Just writing it brings back the frustrations I feel when people try to describe me. I do not like to be described. But, I am a collaborator.

I’m a team player, and 2020 may have been a tough year in many ways, but it’s also been a year of collaboration and rebirth. It has been a year of fighting for what is right, for discovery, development and strength. I have always felt and seen that strength is best seen in numbers. When we work together, we can be unbeatable.

Waldron Designs had been a solo act for five years, when our first interns came along and showed me how fun it could be to have some collaboration again. In working with interns, I discovered something about myself. I do not like to be an authoritative figure. I like to be an equal and collaborate as equals. After a few years of practice, I think I’ve finally nailed down the ability to do both.

I am an authority figure and an equal to those who work for and with me. Collaboration is such a beautiful thing, when done well.

Collaboration with Another Interior Architectural Designer:

This year, I collaborated for the first time with another designer. I started off by taking a bit of control, per my usual standard of running my business. Then, I quickly fell into step of working out a plan for us to collaborate on equally, and as soon as we figured out our rhythm, boy did we start having fun! Here we are, working on a reflected ceiling plan together:

Collaboration with Architects:

This year I also took on two projects with two different architects. In one instance, the architect was my client. I assisted this client with the finish and fixture selection for a spec home design. It was an interesting adventure and as with any collaboration, I learned a lot about myself.

The other time, I hired the architect and I was the client. I hired him for assistance on a project type that he was very familiar with and myself not as much. This was such a wonderful learning experience and expanded my knowledge tremendously. It was challenging, and I doubted myself constantly. I have to give this guy kudos though, because he never lost faith in me and never showed his frustration (if he felt it at all). I could not have had a better partner in that project, and I will most certainly hire him again in the future!

Collaboration with Builders:

Perhaps the biggest collaboration of all was when I hired my second employee, a project superintendent who has been doing construction all their life. I hired this amazing person to lead construction projects as I expanded my practices to include design-build. This is something I have wanted to do for years, but hadn’t found the right person to bring on for the task.

I promise to introduce all the new staff at some point, but not until we reach “full-time” status. What I will say is that we have four new employees, three of which were hand-picked by the first and I could not be more proud of that first choice and the direction they have guided things.

As we launched the build portion of this design-build, a wonderful General Contractor who I frequently work with was hitting a stress point with deadlines and offered us the opportunity to get the crew working right away while we waited for our projects to unfold. They jumped right in and have made me so proud every day with the amazing, honest, and dedicated work they do. This is a hard-working and spectacular crew. I could not be more thrilled

Collaboration with Local Organizations:

I am on the board of two fantastic local organizations: The Chamber of Commerce and The Vashon Center for the Arts. I have been heavily involved this year in the workings of the Chamber, and the pride it brings me to see businesses pivot and thrive with support in such difficult times is immense.

Feeling the strength to speak up in a group that I am not particularly familiar with, and perhaps feel somewhat removed from has been a large step outside my comfort zone, but the acceptance and warmth received from the board at the VCA has been overwhelming, despite my hesitation.

Collaborating is renewing, refreshing, and invigorating. It is also challenging, overwhelming, and sometimes scary!

Each one of these collaborations has strengthened me, and I feel stronger and more enriched every day that I listen to another view, glean on another’s experience, and share my own views and experiences.

Thank you to Megan, Daniel, Sean, Nick, Mikey, Brian, Brett, Cheryl, Missy, Heather R., John, Hallie, Kim, Sam, Emily, Cliff, BJ, Diane, Elise, Jake, Erin, Allison, Heather N., Marcia, Mary Margaret, Danny, Lynann, Cathy, Eric, David, Britt, Kim, Kevin, Bruce, Mary, Susan, Margo, Ron, Kate, and all the other folks who have offered such amazing collaboration this year.